The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-24

c.,,s.r.,.,. VITA Justice.

Pacific States, By HuBrRr Howr BANCROFT,
deals with tho most interesting part Of the an
malls Of California, tho epoch Of the first vigil
innco committee organized in Ban Francisco In
1851. The story Of the second committee. that
OF 1856, VIII DO recountod In another volume.
the whole Of the present book being devoted to
an examination Of the causes and results OF
the earlier uprisinR OF the people throughout
tho territory west OF tho Rocky Mountains for
self-protsction from violence and spoliation.
In the hrst two hundred pages arc depicted the
proyooations which forced the honest and
hard working citizens TO resume the judicial
powers which had been delegatodto courts and
juries, and, falling back upon the primal
rights Of frsemen. to reestablish tho SUBJ
stance OF JUSTICE stripped OF tho forms Of law.
For year previous to juno, 1851. tho public
press had repeatedly called upon the people OF
Ban Francisco TO unite and rescue the COM
rnunity from the rampant depredations OF I'M
punished crime The evidence exhibited in
detail By Mr.. Bancroft shows that robberies OF
every kind were Of daily occurrence. and thst
the normal machinery Of Justice had wholly
broken down. Tho Judges, the prose-
cutting astornoyA tho grand iurtes, the
pottt juries, the police. the custodians
OF TAILS end prisons. wero grossly dere-
uct where they could not be taxed with
completely In tho escape Of offenders. Tho
professional criminals had learned what power
organisation could bestow upon them under
democratic institutions. and wero wont to
boast that fugitive convicts from Sydney would
presently become tho masters Of Ban Francis
90. Nor In presence Of tho focts brought for
ward BIZ Mr.. Bancroft can It DO denied that,
whom the crisis came and the volunteer defend
ers OF Life and property were locked in adeath
grapple with the predatory olassss, such force
% still inherod in the oflicial expounders and
administrators Of the law was In practice ex-
erted on the WRONG side.
Mn Bancroft sums up In tho following para
graph the significance OF q long catalogue Of
crimes which had been committed with i'm
punity: Before the month opened It was clear
" apparent that the time was fast approaching
when the indignation Of the people must burst
its fetters. Ths enemies OF peace ond honest
living had filled their cup Of intuuity to over
flowing Patience had become puerility. Tho
question was no longer whether IL was right for
the people 10 take law into their own hands
and execute Justice. but whether the virtuous
and orderly element 10 the community should
have any existence at all Over and over again
the legal machinery then in operation was
proved utterly Inadequate to tho suppression
Of crime; wickedness grew holder every day.
until tho simple proposition was, Shall tho
substance Of the rtght-mindsd and industrious
BE- forsvsr taken to feed vinainyf Thep It was
shat secret committee Of mon determined to
put on Armor and stand ready. tho self-constt-
tutsd sxponehts and executives Of order aud
Of law. sprung. - II were. from the ground
Who first suggested the committee Of 1857
Tho honor-an honor It b still hold to have
been By Oalifornians converssnt with the evils
'remsHed-has been claimed By many persons.
and tho necessity Of some voluntary organszs-
ton for the repression OF crime had NO doubt
forced itself on moro than ono observing man.
Three months before the merchants had es-
tablished night patrol consisting Of one hum
dred members, and Il was but . step from
the arrogation Of police powers to the
arbitrary exercise Of judicial functions.
But Nj. Bancroft has arrived at the conclu-
sion that tho idea Of concerted attempt to
punish ~ well 40 prevent violations Of the law
first took definite form on June 8. 1851. In tho
once Of Mr.. Brannan. who. aftor consultation
with bis clerk. Mr.. Wardwell, and two we'll
known merchants, Jamos Neall and George
Oakes. determined to invite those citizens
whose discretion could be relied upon TO meet
them ct noon Of tho next day ct the California
engine house. situsted ct tho junction Of
Market and Bush streets, opposite tho
Oriental Hotel What followed II minutely
described BY NJ. Bancroft: "Certain persona
IN tho several districts Of the CITY were re-
Quested 10y Mr.. Brannsnl 10 organize each q
local committee Of which the organizer should
cot a. Chairman, end the duty Of these small
committees should be to notify their trust
worthy nsighbors and invite them to be pres
emit ct the time and place mentioned" In con-
'formity with this call "there WAS largo gath
'srtns at ths engine house At noon Of June Q.
Tho evils Of tho times wore discussed and
visws interohanged a. to the proper remedies.
The meeting finally ediourned to rsassemble
the same night ct Mr.. Brannan's rooms in
order to agree upon aoourse olaction." TWAS
In this meeting on the night Of juno 9 that the
question srose bow the organization should
be designsted. One suggested that they should
cau themselves the Regulators, from their de-
Termination to scrutinixe and regulate the ad-
u,inistration Of Justice. and 90 diminish crime.
But the word Regulators smacked too strongly
Of tho Hounds epoch. 1.-THE Hounds were On
association formed in 1sA9. which. under the
pIetenos Of protecting, had preyed on tho
eommunity.1 Il was also significant Of pur-
pose and policy directly at variance with those
OF tho new association, and hence was
not seriously entertained. Secret Committee
did not suit for obvious reasons Next wss
proposed Committee Of Safety OK Committee
OF Public Safety, a. conveying the idea Of pro-
lection which the association sought to throw
round every good citizen. This name found
moro sup>es.ess, Bot meanwhile the term
Committee Of Vigilance having been sug-
gested. II took precedence at once" expressing
o. IL did che purpose Of watchfulness together
with that Of organized defence. 1t was, in fact,
che syowed object Of the association to vigil
lantiS watch and pursue the outlaws that
infested the city and bring them to
Justice through tho regularly constituted
courts. II that could bs; but by a
moro summary and direct process should
that DO needed. Each member pledged his
sacred honor. his fortune, and his life for the
protection Of bis fellow members. for the SAFE
guarding Of tho lives and property Of the
whole body Of rght-pfhded citizens and for
the determination Of the malefactors who
were rapidly reducing the city to state OF
savaGsry. At this meeting on the night OF
June an informal Instrument was drawn up.
which defined the general aim and pro-
Gramme. This Was signed by those present
fnviolabls ssorooy was prescribed to ell. 1t
hat l tx,ar has